Chapter Twenty-Two
N one of us speak.
The quiet should feel calming, relaxing even. Instead, I feel like I’m on edge. Waiting for the ball to drop.
Or is the phrase ‘shoe’?
Whatever… something is going to drop. Something is going to snap our little bubble of peace. I can feel it.
Neither of my mates seem to notice, though. They make quick work of washing themselves, before turning to take care of me.
This is the second time Blake has helped me in the shower, and even now– with his soapy hands roaming my body– I don’t feel turned on.
Lucian washes my hair and massages my scalp, making me nearly melt into a puddle.
I feel…
Strange.
Cared for. Loved. Doted on even.
But something still feels just–
So one time, I baked a batch of blueberry muffins. I normally add molasses to the batter, but I was out so I used honey instead. The muffins came out lovely and tasted great. They were just… off. At least from how I normally like them.
That is how this all feels.
Good, but just not quite right.
Lucian rinses my hair and Blake steps out of the shower, wrapping a towel around himself and snagging a fluffy robe that is hanging up.
I walk to the door of the shower as Lucian shuts off the water and Blake wraps me up in the robe. He grabs two of the mid-sized towels, and my hand, before leading me back out to the open bedroom space.
The creamy colored carpet feels soft on my feet, and for a brief moment, I contemplate laying down on it.
Okay?
Well that was weird. Why would I want to lay on the floor when there is a wonderfully comfy bed with a pretty purple blanket, just asking for me to burrow into.
Blake pulls out a chair at the little table, so I resist crawling into bed and make my way to him. It’s a short distance, but for a minute, it feels like it stretches into a mile. Everything around me looks warbled and I nearly fall over.
Lucian grips my shoulders and helps me into the chair.
“This is getting ridiculous.” I can’t help airing my frustrations a little. “Why do I feel so drained?”
Lucian takes the towel from my hands and begins to pat my hair dry, while Blake flops pieces of yummy looking pizza onto paper plates.
Wait.
Pizza?
When did that get here?
I rub my head and am starting to truly feel like I’m losing my damn mind.
I mean, I don’t even smell the fucking pizza.
Lucian sits down beside me, but doesn’t move to pick up his food. I also notice that he is fully dressed. In clean clothes.
Where did he get those?
Blake sits down at my other side, and he too is fully dressed.
“What the fuck is going on here?” My voice squeaks a little from my building panic.
Something is definitely not right.
Neither of my mates look at me. They just sit still and stare at their plates.
A sharp pain smacks into my chest and I clutch my fist in my shirt.
Of course. I got dressed too. You know, while sitting in a chair wearing a robe, not moving or feeling any of that happen. Makes total sense.
Not!
I glance up at my pizza and watch in horror as it–well, I guess the best way to describe it is… the fucking thing breathes.
I suck in a deep breath and am milliseconds away from letting out what I am positive would have been an epic horror movie scream– when laughter fills the silence.
It’s a deep, wet sound that chills you from the inside out.
My heart stops beating.
The world around me freezes, before it begins to shift.
And the monster… that fucking piece of shit scum that is supposed to be dead… laughs at me.